Luxury Vacation & Golf Tours
Luxury Vacation & Golf Tours
Famous for its conditioning and attention to detail, Metropolitan GC is second to none in its bunkering and beautiful contouring- a favorite of many who play the area and likely the most difficult course in the area.
Australian Open and Beyond
Known simply as “Metro” to those who play it, The Metropolitan Golf Club is one of the crown jewels of Melbourne’s Sandbelt and widely considered the benchmark for conditioning in Australian golf. Home to the Australian Open many times over in its long history, and most recent host of the World Cup of Golf in 2018, Metro has built a reputation on immaculate playing surfaces, cleverly shaped greens and some of the finest bunkering in the country. While the terrain is among the flattest of the Sandbelt’s elite courses, that flatness has never been a knock on the design.
Metropolitan’s story actually begins with Royal Melbourne. The two clubs were one and the same until 1901, when Melbourne’s rapid growth through the late 19th century pushed some members to want a move further south, a group that would go on to become Royal Melbourne, while others preferred to stay closer to the city. That split led to Metro’s members purchasing land at its present day site in South Oakleigh, giving the club room to grow and, eventually, a course with a personality all its own.
"This is a natural golf course where the grass is playable 12 months of the year. This is really the most natural primo course in the world. You couldn't put anything near it, as far as I'm concerned"
Metropolitan has fewer natural undulations than one might expect for this part of the Sandbelt, sharing more in common with Kingston Heath than with Royal Melbourne. Like its neighbors, though, the course sits on an excellent sandy base and boasts near perfect plantings and conditioning. It’s known for its attention to detail, with grounds staff hand finishing the edges of bunkers cut sharply into fast, true putting surfaces.
That sandy base also supports a striking collection of native Australian trees, eucalyptus, and indigenous shrubs throughout the property, including a celebrated, long standing red flowering gum.
The original course was laid out by club member and engineer J.B. Mackenzie, with meaningful input from the famed Dr. Alister MacKenzie (no relation) during his 1926 visit to Australia. The front nine tends to draw more praise than the back, since it remains closest to the original strategic routing. In the late 1950s, the club lost several holes to a government land acquisition for a nearby school, and American architect Dick Wilson redesigned that section of the course as a result. Michael Clayton and the Crafter and Mogford Group have since led further modernization work on various holes.
Today the course carries more than 90 bunkers, and the entire layout is framed by towering native trees that provide a habitat for local birdlife heard throughout the round.
2026 Golf Digest
2026 Golf Digest
Best of Australia Golf
Get in touch with our team today to start planning your Australia journey!
Play Kingston Heath After the Australian Open 2026
Tee times on Kingston Heath`s Australian Open tournament layout are available to visiting golfers on 8 December 2026. Places are limited and this kind of access does not come around often.
Read more through our link in bio.
#australianopen #kingstonheath #australiagolf #luxurytravel #bestofaustraliagolf
https://www.bestofaustraliagolf.com/news/play-kingston-heath-after-the-australian-open-2026/
Adelaide is Building Something Special for Golf Travelers
A $45 million course redesign, six Australian Opens, and a world-class island course. South Australia is giving serious golfers serious reasons to visit. Adelaide has long been worth a place on any serious golf travel itinerary. Royal Adelaide sits among the finest courses in the country. Now, a major investment is set to give you even more reasons to visit....
https://www.bestofaustraliagolf.com/spotlight/adelaide-is-building-something-special-for-golf-travelers/
St. Andrews Beach Golf Course
Architects: Tom Doak & Mike Clayton
When most golfers visit Melbourne, they head straight for the iconic Sandbelt classics. However, just 50 miles south and about an hour from the CBD, the Mornington Peninsula stretches out in sweeping duneland that Tom Doak himself once called "one of my favorite pieces of ground I`ve…
Read more through our link in bio.
📸 St Andrews Beach Golf
#australiagolf #luxurygolftravel #australiatravel #golfdestinations #bestofaustraliagolf
https://www.bestofaustraliagolf.com/spotlight/course-spotlight-st-andrews-beach-golf-course/
The Ultimate Guide to Tasmania’s Great Walks
Tasmania is widely considered Australia’s premier walking destination. Located off the country’s southern coast, this island offers dramatic coastal cliffs, alpine mountains, white sand beaches, and ancient forests, all within relatively close proximity. For travelers seeking outdoor adventure without sacrificing comfort, Tasmania’s guided walks provide an ideal balance of wilderness and luxury. Unlike traditional hiking trips, these experiences combine expert guides, comfortable private lodges, and exceptional food and wine.
Read more through our link in bio!
📸 Great Walks of Australia / Tourism Australia
Why 7 Mile Beach Is One of Australia’s Best Golf Courses
When a brand new golf course earns a place among Australia’s top ten, it demands attention. Even more so when that course has only just opened its full eighteen holes. Yet that is exactly what 7 Mile Beach has achieved, securing a spot among the country’s elite and confirming what many in the golf world already suspected.
📸 7 Mile Golf
